The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-15
THE FIELD And FARM.
GLORIOUS CROP REPORTS.
Prospects In this State the Best in
Several Years.

COLUMBIA: 5. G.. June 9.-The State de
partment OF agriculture has received two
hundred and forty-siX special reports from its
township correspondents regarding the crops,
of an average date Of June lst, OF which the
following is summary:
COTTON.
The crop Is from two to three weeks earlier,
and stands better than last year. 1t Is clean
and growing rapidly, and is now verging to
limb and square, and looks vigorous anu
healthy. 1t has not been decreased in acre.
The condition is reported in upper Carolina
at 1O2 per cent. middle Carolina 1O2, and In
lower Carolina l0o-an average for the State OF
lOl per Cent. This is above the condition. at
the same period In 1882, 1888 and In 1884, when
1t was reported at &c. and In 1886 OF &c per cent,
showing that the crop Is In better condition
than for Il period OF years.
CORN.
The growth Of corn was somewhat retarded
by the dry weather In April and early May,
but recent rains in nearly every section Of the
State has improved It's condition very much.
On sandy and bottom lands is good.
Owing to the favorable spring and absence
from floods the bottom lands have been better
prepared and planted earlier than usual.
Correspondents estimate the crop on bot
toms Mt % per cent, and on uplands at 70 per
cent
The condition Of the crop in upper Carolina
on bottoms &c. on uplands at 100; in middle
Carolina on bottoms 80, on uplands 9s; in low
making an average for the State on both bot
toms and uplands, 81 per cent against S3 per
cent. compared to the crop OF last years.
WHEAT.
Wheat and fall sown oats were injured by
freezes. the former a little and the latter very
stand were resown in early spring.
The correspondents report that the crop will
yield much better than expected, the recent
rains having much improved The condition OF
hos nod tn,
some localities.
The condition Of both crops is reported at 81
per cent. for wheat and 81 per cent for OATS
against IS per cent. for each last year.
FERTILIZERS
The amount Of commercial fertilizers sold
In the State for the past season, as Is shown
by the books of the department. is less than
the season Of 1885 and S6 Correspondents re.
port that the following percentage Of CONNER
eial S,a fertilizers were used this Ammoni-
icals. 9 /; and that ~ per cent purchased was
used for composing, and that 72 per cent.
kainit was used this year as comparable to
1885,
GENERAL SUMMARY.
Last year 1t was estimated that 10 per cent.
less farm supplies was purchased than In 1885,
ana this year l6 per cent. more than last, still
making Il decrease of3 per cent. less than In
1855. This increaSeis due to freshets, which
destroyed the entire corn crop on the bottoms,
season.
But our farmers are cheerful, hopeful and
buoyant, and do not complain. And when II
Is recollected that less fertilizers have been
purchased, labor cheaper and the crop culti-
tivated at less cost up TO this time than any
crop Tor years, they have some reasons for re-
Joicing. Labor In nearly every locality has
been more plentiful. Owing to the failure Of
the crop last year taught them to prepare for
the worst and, as one correspondent puts 1t :.
"They hold their own wonderfully; most OF
them started with nothing and still have It."
RICE.
The reports from nearly every section OF the
State Is at this time favorable for O good crop,
but there are so many drawbacks In the pro-
duction OF the rice crop that the present esti-
mates may be very much changed before the
maturity Of the crop. The condition is report
ed ut T against 81 in 1885, and 80 In 1886.
OTHER CROPS.
The condition of sorghum and sugar cane Is
reported good. Correspondents estimate that
the acreage has been increased. Condition Of
sorghum and sugtr cane each 9S against 80 for
both crops last year.
The estimated increase :in acreage OF the
sweet potato is placed at per cent, or lOl for
the State and condition at SO per cent,
The acreage OF Irish potatoes has been re-
ported l per cent. decrease, and the condi-
tion for the State OIL per cent. the same as last
year.
The prospects for the fruit crop of nearly all
kinds are not encouraging: Apples, peaches
and pears were badly injured by the cold
winds in early spring. The grape and berry
crops are reported as very promising. The
pies, so peaches, % pears, 50; grapes, 9s ber-
ries, sc. The cindition Of garden products is
reported at 96 per cent. against SO last year.
Out OF two hundred @ ana twentycthree CORES,
report good, 70 fair and y bad, showing that
the seasons have been propitlous for the
growing crops.